Georgia Totto O’Keeffe was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on November 15, 1887. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be an artist. She and her sister received instruction on how to paint from an early age, beginning in grammar school and continuing by a local watercolor artist. In 1905, after graduating from school, she continued her studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html) Then, in September of 1907, Georgia resumed her studies at New York’s Art Student League where she earned a scholarship.
In 1912, Georgia got a teaching job at the Chatham Episcopal Institute and the following year transferred to a teaching position as drawing supervisor in Texas. After many years of teaching, she decided that she wanted time back to herself and gave it up to resume painting. Her first gallery was a set of charcoal drawings she said came from images in her head. These were sent to a friend of hers in New York, whom against Georgia’s wishes showed them to a famous photographer and owner of Gallery 291 Alfred Stieglitz. He was very pleased and decided, without permission, to show them in his gallery. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html)
Career
In 1923, Alfred held a major exhibit of O’Keeffe’s work at the Anderson Galleries, and the following year, after ending a 31 year marriage, he proposed to Georgia and they became husband and wife. This also marked the first year, in which Georgia painted a large, magnified flower, which she would later become famous for. For the next 12 years, the couple lived at the Shelton Hotel and Georgia painted scenes from their 30th floor apartment. But she would soon travel to New Mexico, where her life would be changed forever.
She made trips to New Mexico every summer until 1946, upon which her husband died and she became a permanent resident of the area. In 1951, she made her first journey to Mexico, where she met three local artists. The next decade, she spent traveling around the world, while her fame continued to grow throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html)
Later in Life
As she aged, Georgia’s eyesight deteriorated and painting became difficult. Painting became impossible without assistance, to which she hired Juan Hamilton, who became her painting assistant. Her last, unassisted oil painting was done in 1972. After receiving numerous awards throughout the years, O’Keeffe moved to Santa Fe in 1984 to live with Juan Hamilton and his family. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html)
Georgia O'Keeffe died the following year on March 6, 1986 at the age of 98.
Georgia O’Keeffe: American Precisionist Painter
Early Life
Georgia Totto O’Keeffe was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on November 15, 1887. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be an artist. She and her sister received instruction on how to paint from an early age, beginning in grammar school and continuing by a local watercolor artist. In 1905, after graduating from school, she continued her studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html) Then, in September of 1907, Georgia resumed her studies at New York’s Art Student League where she earned a scholarship.
In 1912, Georgia got a teaching job at the Chatham Episcopal Institute and the following year transferred to a teaching position as drawing supervisor in Texas. After many years of teaching, she decided that she wanted time back to herself and gave it up to resume painting. Her first gallery was a set of charcoal drawings she said came from images in her head. These were sent to a friend of hers in New York, whom against Georgia’s wishes showed them to a famous photographer and owner of Gallery 291 Alfred Stieglitz. He was very pleased and decided, without permission, to show them in his gallery. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html)
Career
In 1923, Alfred held a major exhibit of O’Keeffe’s work at the Anderson Galleries, and the following year, after ending a 31 year marriage, he proposed to Georgia and they became husband and wife. This also marked the first year, in which Georgia painted a large, magnified flower, which she would later become famous for. For the next 12 years, the couple lived at the Shelton Hotel and Georgia painted scenes from their 30th floor apartment. But she would soon travel to New Mexico, where her life would be changed forever.
She made trips to New Mexico every summer until 1946, upon which her husband died and she became a permanent resident of the area. In 1951, she made her first journey to Mexico, where she met three local artists. The next decade, she spent traveling around the world, while her fame continued to grow throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html)
Later in Life
As she aged, Georgia’s eyesight deteriorated and painting became difficult. Painting became impossible without assistance, to which she hired Juan Hamilton, who became her painting assistant. Her last, unassisted oil painting was done in 1972. After receiving numerous awards throughout the years, O’Keeffe moved to Santa Fe in 1984 to live with Juan Hamilton and his family. ( www.georgia-okeeffe.com/ precisionism.html)
Georgia O'Keeffe died the following year on March 6, 1986 at the age of 98.
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